Preliminary Fertility Results from the Preservation of Bovine Semen at Room Temperatures

Abstract

Preservation of semen at room temperatures was achieved by incorporating CO2 into a suitable diluent (called the Illini Variable Temperature, (IVT), diluent) and hermetically sealing the diluted semen in ampules. There was little or no loss in fertility of 4 ejaculates of bull semen preserved by this method and used for breeding for 6 to 7 days. The non-return-to-service estimate of fertility 60 to 90 days after 111 breedings was 75.7% with semen in the IVT diluent compared to 66.9% for 535 breedings with portions of the same ejaculates diluted with egg yolk-citrate and stored for only 3 days at 5[degree]C. Aging of semen in the IVT diluent caused no apparent increase in embryonic mortality in this trial.